Shloka 18

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

आचतुर्थाद्भवेत्स्त्रवः पातः पञ्चमषष्ठयोः / ब्रह्मचर्या दग्निहोत्रान्नाशुद्धिः सङ्गवर्जनात्

Transliteration

ācaturthādbhavetstravaḥ pātaḥ pañcamaṣaṣṭhayoḥ / brahmacaryā dagnihotrānnāśuddhiḥ saṅgavarjanāt

Translation

നാലാം ദിവസത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സ്രാവം ഉണ്ടാകും; അഞ്ചും ആറും ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ ‘പാത’ (കൂടുതൽ വീഴ്ച) എന്നു പറയുന്നു. ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം, അഗ്നിഹോത്രം വീണ്ടും അനുഷ്ഠിക്കൽ, ശുദ്ധാഹാരം, അശുദ്ധസംഗം ഒഴിവാക്കൽ—ഇവയാൽ ശുദ്ധി ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• आचतुर्थात्: from the fourth (day) onward
• आचतुर्थात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘चतुर्थ (fourth day)’; उपसर्गः आ-

• भवेत्: should occur/be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• स्त्रवः: discharge/oozing
• स्त्रवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• पातः: falling/flow (pāta)
• पातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• पञ्चमषष्ठयोः: of the fifth and sixth (days)
• पञ्चमषष्ठयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक) + षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः—पञ्चमः च षष्ठः च (on the fifth and sixth)

• ब्रह्मचर्या: celibacy/continence
• ब्रह्मचर्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मणि चर्या (celibate discipline)

• अग्निहोत्रात्: from the agnihotra (rite)
• अग्निहोत्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + होत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अग्नौ होत्रम् (agnihotra rite)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अशुद्धिः: impurity
• अशुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष/उपसर्ग-निषेध (a- prefix)

• सङ्गवर्जनात्: from avoiding contact/association
• सङ्गवर्जनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग + वर्जन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सङ्गस्य वर्जनम् (avoidance of contact/association)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Impurity progresses with time after a lapse; purity is regained through continence, resuming fire-rites, proper diet, and avoiding contaminating association.

Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi as a prerequisite for sattva and right conduct; discipline of senses supports inner clarity.

Application: After a lapse, observe brahmacarya, resume agnihotra where applicable, take śuddha-āhāra, and avoid impure company until purity is restored.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household ritual sphere with sacred fire (agniśālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (śauca gradations and restoration measures)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (śuddhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links purification to disciplined conduct—continence, maintaining sacred fire rites, proper food, and avoiding impure company—showing that śuddhi is restored by both ritual and ethical restraint.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that purity and restraint are prerequisites for auspicious post-death outcomes; lapses in purity require correction through dharmic discipline to avoid negative karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain self-control, keep daily spiritual practice consistent, eat mindfully, and avoid harmful influences—these are presented as core means to regain and protect inner and outer purity.